Abstract: An occlusal state correction-supporting apparatus, a program therefor, and a recording medium thereof are provided, which can generate necessary, effective information in order to complete the shape of teeth excellently bitten. A shape-extracting means 10 extracts and stores shaped data of an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A position-extracting means 20 extracts and stores absolute coordinate data of reference points. A condition setting and distance-computing means 30 computes the distance between a upper jaw model 100 and a lower jaw model 200 while gradually bringing them close in a perpendicular direction. The condition setting and distance-computing means 30 also sets a condition of occlusal contact point, executes such approach movement again, and computes the distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable dental instrument used by dental professionals to polish a patient's teeth. The dental instrument can be connected to a hand motor used to rotate a prophy cup with a plurality of grinding wings that rub against the patient's teeth as a predetermined amount of tooth cleaning fluid is discharged directly on the patient's teeth through a drain hole within the prophy cup. The tooth cleaning fluid is discharged from a tube that is assembled in a tube room of the dental instrument. The tube is a flexible bladder similar in function and form to a tube of toothpaste. The tube is made of a flexible polymer material that allows it to be squeezed when pressure is applied to it. A roller is assembled within the tube room and on top of the tube. As the roller is pushed forward with a finger, the tube is squeezed to discharge the tooth cleaning fluid directly on the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A temporary prosthesis for use during the osseointegration process of an installed dental implant includes load-absorbing properties and is mountable to the implant, providing an aesthetic appearance to the implant site, while preventing or minimizing loads on the implant itself.

Abstract: A rotatable tissue removing instrument having a tissue engaging member. The tissue engaging member includes one or more prongs or barbs, or both, which grab the strands of granulation tissue and cause the tissue to be wrapped around the tissue engaging member. The granulation tissue continues to be wrapped around the tissue engaging member until pulled free from both the tooth and the bone.

Abstract: Apparatus and method enabling implant supported dental prostheses to be fabricated for reconstruction of both maxillary and mandibular arches from a procedure requiring only one surgery. At least three pairs of reference points in the maxillary arch and in the mandibular arch are connected by adjustable members which are subsequently fixed in length and in mutual orientation to enable necessary impressions and casts to be made. The adjustable members engage anchoring members such as ball headed screws which are fixed to the maxillary and mandibular anatomy. Subsequently fabricated mechanical models of the patient anatomy, such as impressions and casts, capture critical geometric relationships from the adjustable members and their associated anchoring members, thereby enabling both maxillary and mandibular implant mountable prostheses to be fabricated from information gathered during only one surgical session.

Abstract: A denture attachment system includes an implant member adapted to be secured in a mandible such that a head of the implant member projects out of the mandible. A locking mechanism is adapted to be received in a denture so as to cooperate with the implant member to releasably secure the denture to the implant member. The locking mechanism has a receptacle for receiving the head of the implant member. A locking member is movable between a locking position in which the locking member blocks an access out of the receptacle by opposing a surface complementary to the shape of the head of the implant member to hold the implant member captive in the receptacle with points of contact between the head of the implant member and the locking member being diametrically opposed with respect to the head, and a release position in which the head of the implant member may enter/exit the receptacle).

Abstract: An orthodontic device for shifting a molar tooth along the maxillary arch includes an elongated guide element, on whose one end a first securing element is installed to secure the guide element relative to the maxillary arch. A first tube is formed to be shiftable on the guide element, wherein the first tube has a first securing device for optionally securing the first tube relative to the guide element. A second tube is guided on the first tube like a telescope arm, wherein the second tube has a second securing element for securing to the molar tooth. A spring is disposed to act between the first and the second tube which forces the second tube in a direction away from the first securing device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for patients requiring repositioning of misaligned teeth who typically undergo orthodontic treatment to move the teeth into corrected positions. The orthodontic methods typically require lengthy procedures involving the application of light forces to the teeth to effect movement as accomplished by braces or other appliances. The apparatus and method includes the administration of a needle corticotomy to select regions that have been identified as absent any landmarks to avoid. The method is accomplished without the use of freeze-dried and bovine bone and without a mucoperiosteal flap procedure, resulting in low medical risk and providing a simplified and less time consuming procedure as compared to the prior art, and furthermore wherein the method effects a significant reduction in the time required to complete an orthodontic case while also significantly reducing the discomfort and recovery time for the patient.

Abstract: A screw-type orthodontic anchor having an upper member with a pair of slots formed therein with the slots being of different depths. A head portion disposed below the upper member with a collar or cap enveloping the upper member and having a protrusion formed on the inner surfaces thereof which is positioned in a hole extending through the head portion.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided. The bracket includes a rear wall coming to rest on a buccal or lingual tooth surface; and two guide surfaces running at right angles to one another, for guiding an archwire with a rectangular cross section, wherein the two guide surfaces are arranged distanced to the rear wall. A first gingival web runs below the first guide surface and at least one second occlusal web runs above the first guide surface, with a second passage being left free between the first web and the rear wall, and a first passage being left free between the second web and the rear wall.

Abstract: A prescription for an orthodontic brace is selected by providing data representing a number of teeth of the dental arch and by displaying images of the teeth in two or more different positions. Images of at least one tooth when in the first position and when in the second position are simultaneously displayed in superimposed fashion, and any difference in orientations of the displayed tooth images between the first position and the second position appears in contrast. As a consequence, the relative difference in positions can be readily observed. The invention is particularly useful for selecting a prescription of a brace from two or more prescriptions, and is also useful for observing the relative effect of a single prescription when used on certain teeth in comparison to the position of the same teeth during an earlier stage of treatment.

Abstract: A dental prophylaxis angle includes a body, a drive gear and a driven gear. The body has a sleeve with an open rear end, a neck, a head, a first axial bore, and a second axial bore. The first axial bore is located in the neck, and the second axial bore is located in the head. The first and second axial bores communicate with each other at an intersection. A channel extends through the body from the base of the neck to the open rear end. The drive gear is adapted to be inserted into said body through said head. The drive gear includes a gear, an intermediate portion and a shaft. The shaft extends rotatably from the open rear end of the sleeve, through the first bore, and into the second bore. The intermediate portion further includes an angled leading edge. The drive gear defines a circumferential groove between said gear and said intermediate portion. The driven gear is rotatably mounted in the head and operatively connected to the drive gear. The body further includes a lip extending into the channel.

Abstract: An orthodontics assisting system includes index members which indicate respective reference positions of a pre-correction dentition model and a post-correction predictive dentition model; an arranging device 6 for arranging the index members; an image data generating means for generating image data by imaging the pre-correction dentition model and the post-correction predictive dentition model; a screen display means for screen-displaying a pre-correction dentition image and a post-correction predictive dentition image respectively based on the image data; a position adjusting means for adjusting mutual display positions of the pre-correction dentition image and the post-correction predictive dentition image; and a tooth position adjusting means for adjusting the display position of a teeth image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical handset with a nozzle having at least one nozzle line for supplying a medically active medium, such as for example an air-powder mixture and/or a fluid, in particular for the prophylactic treatment of teeth, wherein the handset has a head part with a connecting part on the head for the exchangeable connection of the handset to the nozzle, wherein at least one supply line of the handset is connected to the at least one nozzle line of the nozzle by producing a sealing-tight interference fit of a sealing face on the nozzle with a sealing face on the handle, in particular in that a tongue-and-groove connection is produced between the nozzle and the connecting part, e.g. in that a T-groove on the nozzle is inserted into a T-tongue on the handle, the axis of insertion lying roughly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tooth prosthesis, for insertion in a jawbone, including an implant and an abutment on top of the implant. The method includes: defining a shape of the prosthesis and its location in the jawbone by using first data from a first CT scan image of the jawbone and second data from a second image of a gypsum cast, correlating first and second data by extracting from the first data first position reference data of a first reference in the first image, and from the second data second position reference data of a second reference in the second image, the second reference being identical to the first reference; performing a geometric transformation on the second data and/or the first data to have a coincidence of the second image with the first image and to combine the first and second data into composite scan data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for removing enamel from a person's tooth includes a blade portion and a handle portion. The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abrasive surface against the enamel. The handle portion is coupled to the blade portion and includes first and second regions, the first region is proximal and the second region is distal to the blade portion. The first region includes a substantially solid cross-section with a substantially circular perimeter. The second region includes a substantially solid cross-section with at least a substantially semi-circular perimeter, the solid cross-section defining a notched region. The apparatus is adapted to be inserted via a pressure fit into a corresponding opening in a driver mechanism adapted to drive reciprocating movement of the blade portion and the abrasive surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creation of anatomically correct physical models for an individual patient are provided. More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for design and manufacture of a modified bone model including an accurate soft tissue model. Medical image acquisition processes are used to capture data representative of an anatomy and a scan prosthesis. A modified bone model with supports is designed and fabricated. The modified bone model and scan prosthesis (or copy thereof) is then used to generate the soft tissue model.

Abstract: A device and system for use in a root canal treatment, the device having a probe member and a handpiece for holding the elongate probe member, the probe member having an elongate distal portion capable of being accommodated in a root canal, said probe member comprising: at least one treatment channel having a distal opening in said elongate distal portion, said at least one treatment channel being configured for enabling operation of a suitable root canal treatment tool via said distal opening; at least one illumination channel comprising a first light guide having a first proximal end configured for optical coupling to a light source system, and a second distal end in said distal portion for illuminating internal regions of the root canal during operation of said device; at least one light collection channel comprising a second light guide having a first proximal end configured for optical coupling to an imaging system, and a second distal end located in said distal portion for collecting and transmitting li

Abstract: The dental device for insertion of a crown is a tool for marking an occlusally reduced tooth prior to application of a crown thereon, and for testing whether the tooth has been sufficiently reduced for proper application of the crown. The dental device includes a marking portion frangibly joined to a resistance testing portion. The marking portion includes a marking layer formed of a transferable material so that, following occlusal reduction of the tooth, the marking portion is separated from the resistance testing portion, and the marking layer is positioned against an upper surface of the tooth. The patient bites down on the marking layer to mark raised regions of the upper surface of the tooth, and subsequently bites down on the resistance testing portion, to test if the tooth has been sufficiently reduced for application of a crown thereon.

Abstract: A brush tipped applicator includes an applicator tip having a body defining an external surface and an internal conduit. The applicator tip body can have a proximal end defining a proximal opening of the internal conduit and a distal end. The proximal end of the applicator tip body can have a first fastener that is configured for being coupled to a fastener (i.e., second fastener) of a member containing the dental bleaching composition such that the internal conduit of the applicator tip body is capable of being fluidly coupled with the dental bleaching composition. Additionally, the brush tip includes at least one filament disposed on the external surface of the applicator tip body. A dental bleach activator disposed within the filament in an amount sufficient for activating the dental bleaching composition for whitening the teeth.